Burr H. DuVal
Encyclopedia
Burr Harrison Duval was the commander of the Kentucky
Mustangs, First Regiment Volunteers, a group of Kentucky Long-riflemen formed in Bardstown, Kentucky
in November 1835 during the Texas Revolution
.
and Nancy Hynes. He was born in 1809 in Bardstown
. He attended school at St. Joseph's College in Bardstown.
. They arrived at Quintana, Texas
in December 1835. Duval and his company were put under the command of Colonel James Walker Fannin, with Duval given the rank of Captain.
The Mustangs, along with the five other companies under Fannin's command were in Goliad, Texas
on March 14, 1836 when they received orders from Commander-in-Chief of the Texas Army Sam Houston
to retreat to Victoria, Texas
. Fannin delayed the retreat from Presidio La Bahia
in Goliad
, waiting for reinforcements. Once it was learned that the reinforcements had been defeated on their way to Goliad
, Colonel Fannin ordered the retreat. Captain Duval and his men began to retreat with the regiment, however, by the time the order came, the Mexican army
under the command of José de Urrea had completely surrounded the town of Goliad
. Duval and all of the men under Fannin's command were forced to surrender to the Mexican army on March 19, 1836.
A week following the surrender, Antonio López de Santa Anna
ordered the execution of most of the men captured at Goliad
. Burr H. Duval, and almost 400 other men captured at Goliad
were executed on March 27, 1836. Colonel James Fannin was executed on the following day. The event is known as the Goliad Massacre
.
His father, William Pope Duval
was the first territorial governor of Florida
.
Two of his brothers also fought in the Texas Revolution
. His brother, John Crittenden Duval
, was also captured at Goliad
, however was spared from execution.
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
Mustangs, First Regiment Volunteers, a group of Kentucky Long-riflemen formed in Bardstown, Kentucky
Bardstown, Kentucky
As of the census of 2010, there were 11,700 people, 4,712 households, and 2,949 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 5,113 housing units at an average density of...
in November 1835 during the Texas Revolution
Texas Revolution
The Texas Revolution or Texas War of Independence was an armed conflict between Mexico and settlers in the Texas portion of the Mexican state Coahuila y Tejas. The war lasted from October 2, 1835 to April 21, 1836...
.
Early life
Burr H. Duval was the son of William Pope DuvalWilliam Pope Duval
William Pope Duval was the first civilian governor of Florida Territory, serving from April 17, 1822 until April 24, 1834.-Early life:...
and Nancy Hynes. He was born in 1809 in Bardstown
Bardstown, Kentucky
As of the census of 2010, there were 11,700 people, 4,712 households, and 2,949 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 5,113 housing units at an average density of...
. He attended school at St. Joseph's College in Bardstown.
Texas Revolution
After forming the Kentucky Mustangs, the group traveled to Texas to fight for independence from MexicoMexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. They arrived at Quintana, Texas
Quintana, Texas
Quintana is a town in Brazoria County, Texas, United States. The population was 38 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Quintana is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000,...
in December 1835. Duval and his company were put under the command of Colonel James Walker Fannin, with Duval given the rank of Captain.
The Mustangs, along with the five other companies under Fannin's command were in Goliad, Texas
Goliad, Texas
Goliad is a city in Goliad County, Texas, United States. It had a population of 1975 at the 2000 census. Founded on the San Antonio River, it is the county seat of Goliad County. It is part of the Victoria, Texas Metropolitan Statistical Area. Goliad is located on U.S. Highway 59, named also for...
on March 14, 1836 when they received orders from Commander-in-Chief of the Texas Army Sam Houston
Sam Houston
Samuel Houston, known as Sam Houston , was a 19th-century American statesman, politician, and soldier. He was born in Timber Ridge in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, of Scots-Irish descent. Houston became a key figure in the history of Texas and was elected as the first and third President of...
to retreat to Victoria, Texas
Victoria, Texas
Victoria is a city in and the seat of Victoria County, Texas, United States. The population was 60,603 at the 2000 census. The three counties of the Victoria Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 111,163 at the 2000 census,...
. Fannin delayed the retreat from Presidio La Bahia
Presidio La Bahía
The Presidio Nuestra Señora de Loreto de la Bahía, known more commonly as Presidio La Bahia, or simply La Bahia is a fort constructed by the Spanish Army that became the nucleus of the city of Goliad, Texas, United States. Originally founded in 1721 on the ruins of the failed French Fort Saint...
in Goliad
Goliad, Texas
Goliad is a city in Goliad County, Texas, United States. It had a population of 1975 at the 2000 census. Founded on the San Antonio River, it is the county seat of Goliad County. It is part of the Victoria, Texas Metropolitan Statistical Area. Goliad is located on U.S. Highway 59, named also for...
, waiting for reinforcements. Once it was learned that the reinforcements had been defeated on their way to Goliad
Goliad, Texas
Goliad is a city in Goliad County, Texas, United States. It had a population of 1975 at the 2000 census. Founded on the San Antonio River, it is the county seat of Goliad County. It is part of the Victoria, Texas Metropolitan Statistical Area. Goliad is located on U.S. Highway 59, named also for...
, Colonel Fannin ordered the retreat. Captain Duval and his men began to retreat with the regiment, however, by the time the order came, the Mexican army
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
under the command of José de Urrea had completely surrounded the town of Goliad
Goliad, Texas
Goliad is a city in Goliad County, Texas, United States. It had a population of 1975 at the 2000 census. Founded on the San Antonio River, it is the county seat of Goliad County. It is part of the Victoria, Texas Metropolitan Statistical Area. Goliad is located on U.S. Highway 59, named also for...
. Duval and all of the men under Fannin's command were forced to surrender to the Mexican army on March 19, 1836.
A week following the surrender, Antonio López de Santa Anna
Antonio López de Santa Anna
Antonio de Padua María Severino López de Santa Anna y Pérez de Lebrón , often known as Santa Anna or López de Santa Anna, known as "the Napoleon of the West," was a Mexican political leader, general, and president who greatly influenced early Mexican and Spanish politics and government...
ordered the execution of most of the men captured at Goliad
Goliad, Texas
Goliad is a city in Goliad County, Texas, United States. It had a population of 1975 at the 2000 census. Founded on the San Antonio River, it is the county seat of Goliad County. It is part of the Victoria, Texas Metropolitan Statistical Area. Goliad is located on U.S. Highway 59, named also for...
. Burr H. Duval, and almost 400 other men captured at Goliad
Goliad, Texas
Goliad is a city in Goliad County, Texas, United States. It had a population of 1975 at the 2000 census. Founded on the San Antonio River, it is the county seat of Goliad County. It is part of the Victoria, Texas Metropolitan Statistical Area. Goliad is located on U.S. Highway 59, named also for...
were executed on March 27, 1836. Colonel James Fannin was executed on the following day. The event is known as the Goliad Massacre
Goliad massacre
The Goliad Massacre was an execution of Republic of Texas soldiers and their commander, James Fannin, by Mexico, reluctantly carried out by General Jose de Urrea.-Background:...
.
Facts
Duval County, Texas is named after him.His father, William Pope Duval
William Pope Duval
William Pope Duval was the first civilian governor of Florida Territory, serving from April 17, 1822 until April 24, 1834.-Early life:...
was the first territorial governor of Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
.
Two of his brothers also fought in the Texas Revolution
Texas Revolution
The Texas Revolution or Texas War of Independence was an armed conflict between Mexico and settlers in the Texas portion of the Mexican state Coahuila y Tejas. The war lasted from October 2, 1835 to April 21, 1836...
. His brother, John Crittenden Duval
John Crittenden Duval
John Crittenden Duval was an American writer of Texas literature. He has been noted as being the first Texas man of letters and was dubbed the "Father of Texas Literature" by J. Frank Dobie. His Early Times in Texas was initially published serially in 1867 in Burke's Weekly and was finally...
, was also captured at Goliad
Goliad, Texas
Goliad is a city in Goliad County, Texas, United States. It had a population of 1975 at the 2000 census. Founded on the San Antonio River, it is the county seat of Goliad County. It is part of the Victoria, Texas Metropolitan Statistical Area. Goliad is located on U.S. Highway 59, named also for...
, however was spared from execution.